Dorset

Dorset's population grew in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census also show there were changes in housing tenure and health.

The population reached nearly 370,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Dorset increased by 5.5%, from just over 346,000 to 365,000.

The addition of about 19,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Dorset was home to, on average, 1 person per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was similar to the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Changes in family structure

This area saw the South West's second-largest rise in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

Across the region, only Teignbridge saw a greater rise in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents (from 7.7% to 8.7%).

During this period, Dorset went from having the 22nd-highest to the twelfth-highest percentage of households with only adult children living with their parents out of 309 English local authority areas.

In 2011, just under 1 in 11 (8.9%) households in Dorset had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 7.9% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 25% to 24%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the South West

Percentage of households that where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Dorset that rented privately increased from 9.7% to 14% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The proportion that lived in social housing remained close to 12%, while the percentage of Dorset households that owner their home decreased from 75% to 72%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 11% in 2001 to 17% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Dorset increased by 4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Dorset, the South West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Dorset residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.2% to 4.9% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (81%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69% in 2001. The percentage of Dorset residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23% to 14%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 5.1% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Dorset decreased by 3.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Dorset, the South West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Dorset working less than 16 hours increased from 2.2% to 3.3% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in nine (12%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 15% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 2.1% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Dorset increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Dorset, the South West and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links